filmmaking tips and tricks Archive
Adobe Premiere Pro is loaded with so many outstanding features that it’s easy for a few to get lost in the mix. Even the most seasoned editor can discover seemingly hidden features in the software that could completely change the way they’ve done things for years. It’s
‘God Is Dead’ When Friedrich Nietzsche first used this phrase, he wasn’t speaking in the literal sense but that our continuing understanding of our world had done away with mystery. To a much lesser extent that’s exactly how I felt when I first saw this fantastic trick
They say that sound is half the picture. David Bowie once said, “Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming.” Lots of people talk about the importance of listening; but if we can’t hear what they’re saying, what does it even matter? Much of the significance
TikTok is one of the most popular video-sharing apps around. In September of 2016 (4 years ago) it was estimated to have 500 million users worldwide. That is over 7% of the population of earth; one heck of a large crowd! Low-quality final outputs can turn the
When you’re filming an event or in a large crowd of people, flashes from professional photographers or the multitude of cell phones can really kill the mood of your perfect hero-shot. Those happy newlyweds, daring race car drivers, and dashes celebrities are what everyone is there to
The market for Large Format, high-end cameras has grown recently with new offerings from Canon, Sony, and ARRI. There is no denying the stunning results a skilled cinematographer can acquire with these remarkable LF cameras. LF and Full Frame quickly became ‘the’ quality standard for big-budget films,
In the words of Little Richard, “It’s not the size of the ship; it’s the size of the waves.” Understanding the differences in image sensor sizes amid today’s evolving camera technology is important when determining the look you’re intending to capture as a cinematographer. Camera manufacturers are
When you’re a content creator looking for a camera that can do it all, what you want is something you can take anywhere; Something small and lightweight with good low-light capabilities. You want something you can mount along side your computer rig, but something you can also
The ARRI Trinity is the king of professional camera stabilization. This advanced Steadicam-gimbal hybrid system can bring to life almost any shot you can dream-up (and surely some that nobody has even imagined yet) with ease. Want your camera to fly into a car window? Bam! Boom
We’re all stuck at home, finished watching Tiger King, and looking to find some way to get back to our normal lives. Fortunately, this short time of reflection can help all of us hone in on our skills as filmmakers. But you don’t need a large crew
Editing is a long, laborious process that teeters on the fine edge of an artistic endeavor and a secretarial function with the ultimate goal of disguised everything you’ve done. As a professional editor, you’re always searching for ways to save time on organizing so you can spend
Post-production is changing, and it’s changing fast. Clients now expect you to provide professional color grading services for the same fee, while the camera department feeds you increasingly varied flavors of log. Most filmmakers (and their clients) just need projects to look crisp, clean, realistic and consistent.
In the current scenario, there’s a decent number of competitors in the camera world. We’ve got many newcomers, some of them from Eastern Asia like Kinefinity and Z Cam, other from down under, like Blackmagic, and then there are the staples of the industry, those that shaped
We all dream of having the image quality and color science of an ARRI ALEXA, but the truth is that most of us don’t have deep enough pockets to own that kind of camera. The BMPCC 4K and 6K, on the other hand, are much more affordable
Once you’ve mastered your craft, it’s easy to look back and quickly ignore the first steps you’ve took on that path. It may be due to a mentor or experience alone, but all great ones have begun their journey with a first step. Now, the guys from
Considering the powerful set of tools and assets that come with Resolve 16, it’s no surprise that more and more creative professionals and enthusiasts alike are switching to the platform not only for color grading but for video editing as well. This new user base may come
DaVinci Resolve has quickly gained traction among filmmakers, especially after the implementation of the Edit Page in the software a few years ago. If you take a look at YouTube, you’ll notice that a lot of creators switched from Premiere Pro CC (and other rivals) to Resolve
A nice and beefy lineup of cameras seems to populate the horizon while myriads of filmmakers and DOPs approaching productions are having now more options than ever, at least in the indie scene. Despite the fact that most blockbusters and big productions are still being shot on
A few years ago a lot of us were looking with a little bit of disdain at what at the time where called EVIL cameras. A poor name choice, there’s no doubt on that, but not many could think of those small crippled bodies as worthy of
Coming back from holidays we all got back to our desks, but some of you may come to an unfortunate and bitter realization that it’s time to upgrade your laptop. That was the moment the dam broke and those of you in that situation got flooded by
